Beads



No. 620,238. Patantad Feb. 28, I899.

T. J. GABRIGAN.

BEADS.

(Application fllad Oct. 19, 1896.]

(No Model.)

THE cams Packs 00. nmTo-umo.v wAsmwc-ron. n cy UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. GARRIGAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BEADS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,238, dated February 28, 1899.

Application filed October 19, 1898- Serial No. 693,995. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. GARRIGAN, of East Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvementin Beads, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, likeletters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to improvements in What is known as rosary-beads, my invention consisting in combining with said beads an indicator to indicate how many of the beads have been used. The indicator consists of a block or device through which the beads may be moved easily, the said block having an attached jaw or spring to in this instance of my invention enter the spaces between adjacent beads, the position of the indicator on the string of beads with relation to the commencing-bead of the string designating the number of beads that mayhave been used and indicating the point at which the beads may be used when taken up.

Figure 1 shows part of astring of beads with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a section in the linem of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an end view of the yielding member.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a string of beads which in practice will be endless, the beads a, being linked or joined together in usual manner common to rosarybeads.

In accordance with my invention I apply to the string of beads an indicator through which the beads may be easily moved step by step, the indicator having an appliance by which it will remain in any position on or with relation to the string of beads in which it may be left by the user. The indicator, in the form in which I have herein chosen to illustrate my invention, is composed of a block b, having a head I), through which is made a suitable passage, so that the beads may be drawn through said passage. The block may be of heart shape or any other usual shape, and it may have suspended from it in usual manner a cross 0. The block is herein represented as notched at one side, and entering said notch is a spring at, one end of said spring being attached to the block, as herein represented by a rivet d, and the opposite end of the spring is shaped to present, as in Fig. 2, sides inclined toward its center.

The beads may be drawn under this spring and through the block in either direction, and in whichever direction the beads may be moved a bead may strike either of the inclines of the spring, thus causing the spring to yield to the passage of the bead, and a bead having passed the spring it will by its own resiliency enter the space between adjacent beads and hold the string until the force of the spring is overcome by pulling upon the beads in one or the other direction. In this way it will be understood that the spring, which forms a cooperative part of the indicator, is adapted to come into position readily between any two adjacent beads, and the indicator acting upon the beads will hold the string stationary with relation to the cross until the string is again moved by the application of manual power.

I prefer to make the block b of metal, but it may be of any usual or suitable material, and the block may be of any usual or desired shape.

This invention is not limited to the precise shape shown for the movable member of the blockz'. 6., the springand instead I may use any other suitable moving device which will spring or yield to the passage of a bead under it and then resume its normal position after the passage of the bead to retain the string in the position in which it may be left in the indicator.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination with a string of beads, of an indicator having a yielding member adapted to enter the spaces between adjacent beads, to thereby retain the indicator in position with relation to the beads with which it may be left.

2. A string of beads, combined with an indicatorcomposed of a block having a circular passage, and a spring connected with said block and having its free end adapted to bear on and yield to the passage of the beads through the passage in said block.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS J. GARRIGAN.

Witnesses:

Gno. W. GREGORY, EDITH M. STODDARD. 

